6 ways to help your child focus

Trouble focusing can be a long-term or short-term challenge. Either way, it makes learning hard. It also impacts everyday life.

You can’t always change the circumstances that make it hard to focus. But there are ways to help your child cut through distractions and get things done.

If your child has trouble staying focused, try these six strategies.

1. Set a timer.

Knowing there’s a limit to how long they have to stay focused can make it easier for kids to hang in there. Set a timer for how long your child needs to work before having a quick snack or taking a brain break.

Consider setting a 10-minute timer and increase the amount of time little by little as your child gets better at focusing.

You can download free timer apps that help kids follow the “Pomodoro Technique,” a time-management method that gets its name from the Italian word for tomato. Or you can get a kitchen timer shaped like a tomato or in another fun shape.

2. Help your child get started.

There are many reasons why kids with executive function challenges have trouble starting tasks. Sometimes kids forget they need to do a task. And sometimes they put off the task because it’s stressing them out.

The longer kids put off starting a task, the harder it can be to focus on it. That goes for projects for school and around the house.

To make it easier to get started, try breaking tasks into smaller steps.

3. Limit directions to one or two at a time.

Try not to overload your child with too many directions at once. Let’s say it’s time for homework. You might tell your child to check the assignment book, get out the right materials, and start working. But that may be too many steps for your child to remember.

Give instructions one at a time. Or try using checklists that break a task down into single steps to help your child follow directions.

4. Help your child refocus on the task.

Kids who get distracted need strategies to get back on task once they’ve drifted. This is called redirecting their attention.

Come up with a signal for when your child’s mind starts to wander. It might be putting a hand on your child’s shoulder or saying a specific word. Tell your child’s teacher which strategies you’re trying at home.

5. Try different kinds of fidgets.

Fidgets are sensory tools that can help some kids focus better. Items like rubber bands and squeeze balls can help kids move around and get sensory input while they do schoolwork or other tasks.

Some fidgets can help kids calm down and get ready to focus on a task. Other fidgets can help kids stay alert and tuned in to the task. Try different types of fidgets to see which ones work best for your child.

6. Use mindfulness techniques.

Mindfulness exercises are all about paying attention and focusing. Studies have shown that mindfulness can help kids improve their behavior and their ability to focus on lessons and on schoolwork.

One way to practice is to sit quietly and focus on breathing in and out. Taking even a few deep breaths before class or a test could make a difference. Try the 5-4-3-2-1 mindfulness technique.

More resources

• Try listening to music. See if Understood’s Focus playlist on Spotify helps your child stay on task.

• Recognize even small wins. Remember to praise your child’s efforts to improve focus.

• Learn about ADHD. Get a list of common symptoms and understand how attention works.